Locking device for telephone instrument

ABSTRACT

Telephone instruments have an apertured base through which project depressible dialing elements, such as touch tone keys or push buttons. A locking device for telephone instruments with depressible keys or buttons comprises a body fixed to the base and formed with a bore therethrough. Disposed within the bore of the body is a movable member that has one end thereof projecting over a depressible dialing element. By moving the movable member in one direction, a depressible dialing element is depressed to lock the telephone instrument. By moving the movable member in an opposite direction, the depressed dialing element under its own yieldable action rises to become fully extended to enable the telephone instrument to be operated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to locking devices fortelephone instruments, and more particularly to a locking device for atelephone instrument having a depressible key or button for dialing.

Heretofore, telephone locking devices have been employed to locktelephone instruments having dials rotatable by an operator's finger. Alocking device for such an instrument would have a removable key thatcaused the actuation of a clamp for entering the finger hole to preventthe rotation of the dial. In order to use the telephone instrument, thelocking device was removed from the penetrated finger hole and the clampwas removed from clamping engagement with the rotatable dial.

Another locking device heretofore employed to lock telephoneinstruments, which had either a rotatable dial or a depressible dialingelement, required the handset of the telephone instrument to be removedfrom the cradle. After the handset was removed from the cradle of thetelephone instrument, the locking device depressed a cradle plunger andretained the cradle plunger in a depressed state. The telephoneinstrument could not be operated with the cradle plunger depressed.

The locking devices heretofore employed for locking telephoneinstruments with depressible dialing elements were found to be undulyexpensive and unduly inconvenient.

In the patent to Roof, U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,234, issued on Dec. 18, 1973,for Lock For Press Button Telephones, there is disclosed a keycontrolled device having conductors connected to the Touch Toner keycircuit. The locking device included key actuated switches to make orbreak the circuit connection to the Touch Tone key circuit.

The patent to Richards, Sr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,712,964, issued on Jan. 23,1973, for Lock for Telephone Instrument describes a locking device thatis disposable within the cradle of the telephone instrument. When thebody of the locking device is disposed within the cradle of thetelephone instrument, the body depresses a cradle plunger of thetelephone instrument. After the cradle plunger is depressed, a lockingkey for the locking device is actuated to pivot a locking member of thelocking device into locking engagement with the base of the telephoneinstrument. To release the cradle plunger, the locking key is actuatedto disengage the pivotal member of the locking device from the base ofthe telephone instrument and the locking device is removed from thecradle of the telephone instrument.

The patent to Mendenbach, U.S. Pat. No. 2,864,906, issued on Dec. 16,1958, for Locking Device For French Phone, discloses a locking devicethat clamps the handset of the telephone instrument in the cradle of thetelephone instrument by engagement with the base of the telephoneinstrument. While the handset is locked in the cradle, the cradleplunger is depressed.

The patent to Bart, U.S. Pat. No. 3,495,050, issued on Feb. 10, 1970,for Telephone Lock describes a telephone dial shield that is locked tothe base of the telephone instrument.

In the patent to Buckingham, U.S. Pat. No. 3,624,317, issued on Nov. 30,1971, for Telephone Lock, there is disclosed a locking device with abase plate that seats in the cradle of the telephone instrument betweenthe cradle plungers. A locking plate is detachably secured by acylindrical lock and cam to the base plate of the telephone instrument.When the locking plate is so secured, the locking plate engages thecradle plungers of the telephone instrument to depress the cradleplungers. When the locking plate is removed from the base plate, thecradle plungers are released.

A similar arrangement is disclosed in the patent to Wagoner, U.S. Pat.No. 3,939,678, issued on Feb. 24, 1976, for Telephone Locking Apparatus,and in the patent to Edelcreek, U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,671, issued on Mar.27, 1973, for Telephone Lock. See also the patent to Benson, U.S. Pat.No. 2,641,659, issued on June 9, 1953, for Telephone Lock and the patentto Foote, U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,931, issued on Aug. 10, 1971, forTelephone Set Locks. Other patents of interest are the patent toRudolph, U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,277, issued on July 9, 1974, for TelephoneLocking Device and the patent to Nimer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,069,513, issuedon Dec. 18, 1962, for Telephone Clamps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In combination, a telephone instrument has an apertured base throughwhich projects at least one depressible dialing element. A lockingdevice comprising a body is mounted on the base of the telephoneinstrument. The body of the locking device is formed with a boretherethrough. A movable member is disposed within the bore of the body.One end of the movable member projects in the direction of a dialingelement. By moving the movable member in one direction, the dialingelement is depressed to inhibit the activation of the dial element.Inhibiting the activation of the dial element results in thedeactivation of the remaining dial elements and the telephoneinstrument. By moving the movable member in an opposite direction, themovable member enables the activation of the dial element.

A feature of the present invention is that the body of the lockingdevice is fixedly secured to the base of the telephone instrument sothat the only removable component is the removable locking key.

An object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for atelephone instrument with Touch Tone keys or push button keys that iseconomical to manufacture, and, yet, is convenient to employ and doesnot require the making or breaking of an electrical connection.

Another feature of the present invention is that the locking deviceretains a dialing element of the telephone instrument, such as a TouchTone key or push button, depressed during a locked state and releasesthe depressed dialing element during the unlocked state so that thedepressed dialing element under its own yieldable action becomes fullyextended. When a Touch Tone key is depressed during the locked state andthe handset of the telephone instrument is removed from the cradle torelease the cradle plungers, a loud high-pitched sound is heard from thetelephone instrument receiver. When a Touch Tone key is depressed, thehandset of the telephone instrument does not operate to initiate anyoutgoing call. When a Touch Tone is depressed and the receiver is on thecradle, the telephone instrument bell rings in a normal manner. Thelifting of the handset from the cradle of the telephone instrumentreleases the cradle plungers to discontinue the ringing of the bell ofthe telephone instrument and a high-pitched tone will be heard from thereceiver of the telephone instrument handset at the called station andat the calling station. However, there will be no transmissiontherebetween for communication.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a TOUCH TONE telephone instrument and alocking device therefor.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the telephone base of the telephone instrumentshown in FIG. 1 and the locking device therefor.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 of thelocking device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustrated mounted on a panelof the base of the telephone instrument.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2 of thelocking device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustrated mounted on a panelof the base of the telephone instrument with the cam thereof depressinga touch tone key.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2 of thelocking device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustrated mounted on a panelof the base of the telephone instrument with the cam thereof extendingaway from the TOUCH TONE key to release the same.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the telephone base of the telephone instrumentshown in FIG. 1 and illustrating a modification of the locking deviceshown in FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6 of thelocking device shown in FIG. 6 illustrating the sliding memberdepressing a TOUCH TONE key.

FIG. 7A is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 7A--7A of FIG.7.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the telephone base of the telephone instrumentshown in FIG. 1 and illustrating a further modification of the lockingdevice shown in FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 8A is a side elevation view of the locking device shown in FIG. 8taken along line 8A--8A of FIG. 8 and illustrating the swivel memberthereof disposed in a dialing element locking position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a conventional telephone instrument 10 having abase 11, a cradle 12, a handset 13, cradle plungers 14 and dialingelements 15. The base 11 includes an apertured panel 16 through whichproject the dialing elements 15. The dialing elements 15 are depressibledialing elements, such as TOUCH TONE keys or push buttons. TOUCH TONEdialing and push button dialing have been well-known in the telephoneinstrument art.

A locking device 20 (FIG. 2) is mounted on the base 11 of the telephoneinstrument 10. The locking device 20 comprises a body 21 that is fixedto the panel 16 of the base 11 of the telephone instrument 10 bysuitable means, such as screws, rivets, epoxy resin, and adhesives. Abore 22 is formed in the body 21 and extends therethrough. The axis ofthe bore 22 is parallel to the plane of the base panel 16.

Disposed within the bore 22 is a rotatable member 23. At one end of therotatable member 23 is formed a suitable locking key slot 24. A suitableremovable locking key 25 is insertable in the locking key slot 24. Whenthe removable locking key 25 mates with the locking key slot 24, thelocking key 25 is turned by an operator to rotate the rotatable member23 about its axis within the bore 22. The body 21, the bore 22, therotatable member 23, the locking key slot 24 and the locking key 25 arewell-known as a locking device, which locking device is conventional andis commercially available. It is within the present invention that acombination lock arrangement could be employed in lieu of a removablekey and the rotatable member can be rotated manually by an operator.

The other end of the rotatable member 23 projects toward a dialingelement 15. Fixedly secured to the other end of the rotatable member 23for rotation therewith is an eccentric member or cam 30. The eccentriccam 30 confronts or overlies one of the dialing elements 15. Byinserting the removable locking key 25 into the locking key slot 24 andturning the locking key 25 in one direction (FIG. 4), the cam 30depresses the confronting or underlying depressible dialing element 15to lock the telephone instrument 10. By turning the removable lockingkey 25 in an opposite direction (FIG. 5), the cam 30 releases thedepressed dialing element 15 and the depressed dialing element 15 underits yieldable action becomes fully extended through the base panel 16.

When a TOUCH TONE key 15 is depressed by the locking device 20 and thehandset 13 of the telephone instrument 10 is removed from the cradle 12of the telephone instrument 10, a loud high-pitched tone is heard fromthe receiver of the handset 13. When a TOUCH TONE key 15 is depressed bythe locking device 20, outgoing calls cannot be initiated from thetelephone instrument 10. When a TOUCH TONE key 15 is depressed by thelocking device 20, the telephone instrument will operate its bell forringing in a normal manner. If the handset 13 is not removed from thecradle 12, the telephone instrument 10 will continue to ring the bellthereof in a normal manner without any indication of the locking device20 being used to the calling party. If the handset 13 is removed fromthe cradle 12, the ringing of the bell for the telephone instrument 10will be discontinued. A loud high-pitched tone will be heard from thereceiver of the handset 13 of the called party and the receiver of thehandset of the calling party. However, there will be no transmissiontherebetween for communications.

It is to be observed that the body 21 is preferably fixed to the panel16 adjacent to a * key or a # key. These keys are not used in normaldialing and are located in the outer columns. Therefore, the lockingdevice, when in the unlocked condition, does not interfere with thenormal operation of the telephone instrument. Thus, the location of thebody 21 is convenient for a locking device. The TOUCH TONE keys areconventionally arranged in rows and columns in the panel 16 and theopenings formed in the panel 16 to receive the TOUCH TONE keys are alsoarranged in rows and columns.

Illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is the telephone instrument 10 whichincludes the depressible dialing elements 15, such as TOUCH TONE keysand push buttons. The depressible dialing elements 15 project throughthe apertured panel 16 of the base 11 of the telephone instrument 10. Alocking device 50 (FIGS. 6 and 7) is a modification of the lockingdevice 20 shown in FIGS. 1-5.

The locking device 50 comprises a mounting plate 51 fixedly secured tothe panel 16 of the base 11 in a suitable manner, such as by screws,rivets, epoxy resin and adhesives. A suitable channel 52 is formed inthe base 51 parallel to the panel 16 of the base 11. Disposed within thechannel 52 is a sliding member 55. The sliding member 55 is movable whenthe key is rotated by an operator. When the sliding member 55 is movedoutwardly from the channel 52 in confronting relation with thedepressible dialing element 15, it engages the depressible dialingelement 15 to depress the same to lock the telphone instrument 10. Whenthe sliding member 55 is moved inwardly within the channel 52, thesliding member 55 releases the depressed dialing member 15 to enable thetelephone instrument 10 to operate.

Fixed to the mounting plate 51 and disposed above the sliding member 55in spaced relation is a cylinder 60. Rotatable within the bore of thecylinder 60 is a cylindrical block or rotatable member 61. The cylinder60 and the rotatable member 61 have a common axis, which isperpendicular to the plane of the panel 16. Formed in the sliding member55 is a keyway 62 and projecting from the rotatable member 61 is a pin63 that is disposed in the keyway 62. When a locking key 64 mates with alocking key slot 65, the rotatable member 61 is rotatable. As aconsequence of rotating the rotatable member 61, the pin 62 moves withinthe keyway 62 to impart a sliding movement to the sliding member 55along a rectilinear path. By rotating the key 64 in one direction, thesliding member 55 is moved outwardly from the channel 52 to depress thedialing element 15. By rotating the key 64 in the opposite direction,the sliding member 55 is moved within the channel 52 to release thedepressed dialing member 15. The mounting plate 51, the cylinder 60, therotatable member 61, the sliding member 55, the keyway 62, the pin 63,the key 64 and the key slot 65 are well-known as a locking device, whichlocking device is conventional and commercially available.

Illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 8A is the telephone instrument 10, whichincludes the depressible dialing elements 15, such as TOUCH TONE keysand push buttons. The depressible dialing elements 15 project throughthe apertured panel 16 of the base 11 of the telephone instrument 10. Alocking device 70 (FIGS. 8 and 8A) is a further modification of thelocking device 20 shown in FIGS. 1-5.

The locking device 70 comprises a cylindrical body 71 fixedly secured tothe panel 16 of the base 11 of the telephone instrument 10 in a suitablemanner, such as by screws, rivets, epoxy resin and adhesives. The body71 may be integrally formed with a mounting plate 72 that is fixed tothe panel 11. Formed in the body 71 is a cylindrical bore 73. The axisof the bore 73 is perpendicular to the plane of the panel 16. Arotatable member 75 swings or rotates about the axis of the bore 73 in aplane parallel to the plane of the panel member 16. At one end of therotatable member 75 is a hub 76 that seats in the bore 73 and isrotatable therein. The hub 76 is preferably integrally formed with therotatable member 75.

As previously described, the rotatable member 75 is rotatable about theaxis of the bore 73 formed in the body 71 in a plane parallel to theplane of the panel member 16. The length of the rotatable member 75 issufficient for it to engage the depressible dialing element 15. Byrotating the rotatable member 75 in a direction for it to confront thedepressible dialing element 15, the rotatable member 75 depresses thedepressible dialing element 15. By rotating the rotatable member 75 awayfrom the depressed dialing element 15, it releases the depressed dialingelement 15 and the depressed dialing element 15 becomes fully extendedunder its yieldable action.

A locking key slot 80 is formed in the hub 76 of the rotatable member75. A removable locking key 79 is insertable in the locking key slot 80.When the removable locking key 79 and the locking key slot 80 mate, thelocking key 79 inserted in the locking key slot 80 is rotatable toimpart a swinging movement or rotation to the rotatable member 75 aboutthe axis of the hub 76 and the cylindrical body 71. By rotating therotatable member 75 thorugh the key 79 so that it confronts thedepressible dialing element 15, the depressible dialing element 15 isdepressed. The removable locking key 79 is removed from the locking keyslot 80 and the dialing element 15 is retained in a depressed state bythe rotatable member 75. By inserting the locking key 79 into thelocking key slot 80, the rotatable member 75 is rotated away from thedepressed dialing element 15 and the depressed dialing element 15 isreleased. Thereupon, the depressed dialing element becomes fullyextended under its yieldable action. The locking device 70 can beemployed on any dialing element along an exterior row or column as thesliding member is not in the path of the dialing element when in theunlocked condition.

We claim:
 1. In combination:(A) a telephone instrument having anapertured base through which projects at least one depressible dialingelement; and (B) a locking device comprising;(a) a body mounted on saidbase of said telephone instrument, said body being formed with a bore;and (b) a movable member disposed in said bore, one end of said movablemember being movable in one direction into confronting relation withsaid dialing element for depressing said depressible dialing element forlocking said telephone instrument and being movable in another directionfor releasing said depressed dialing element to enable said telephoneinstrument to operate.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid body of said locking device is fixedly secured to said base of saidtelephone instrument.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid depressible dialing element is a TOUCH TONE key.
 4. The combinationas claimed in claim 1 wherein said depressible dialing element is a pushbutton.
 5. The conbination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movablemember is rotatable in said bore, and said locking device furthercomprising an eccentric member fixed to said one end of said movablemember for rotation therewith, rotation of said movable member in saidone direction rotates said eccentric member to depress said depressibledialing element to lock said telephone instrument, rotation of saidmovable member in said other direction releases said depressed dialingelement to enable said depressed dialing element to be extended foroperating said telephone instrument.
 6. The combination as claimed inclaim 5 wherein the other end of said movable member is formed with alocking key slot, and a removable locking key is inserted into saidlocking key slot in mated relation therewith for imparting rotation tosaid movable member.
 7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 whereinsaid base of said telephone instrument includes an apertured panelthrough which said depressible dialing element projects and on whichsaid body of said locking device is fixedly secured, the axis of saidbore formed in said body being parallel to the plane of said panel andthe rotation of said movable member is about said axis.
 8. Incombination:(A) a telephone instrument having an apertured base throughwhich projects at least one depressible dialing element; and (B) alocking device comprising:(a) a mounting plate mounted on said base ofsaid telephone instrument, said mounting plate being formed with anopening extending toward said dialing element; (b) a movable memberdisposed in said opening for sliding movement over a rectilinear path;and (c) means mounted on said plate and operatively interacting withsaid movable member for moving said movable member in one direction insaid opening into confronting relation with said dialing element fordepressing said dialing element for locking said telephone instrumentand for moving said movable member in an opposite direction in saidopening for releasing said depressed dialing element to enable saiddepressed dialing element to be extended to enable said telephoneinstrument to operate.
 9. The combination as claimed in claim 8 whereinsaid mounting plate of said locking device is fixedly secured to saidbase of said telephone instrument.
 10. The combination as claimed inclaim 8 wherein said depressible dialing element is a TOUCH TONE key.11. The combination as claimed in claim 8 wherein said depressibledialing element is a push button.
 12. The combination as claimed inclaim 8 wherein said base of said telephone instrument includes anapertured panel through which said depressible dialing element projectsand on which said mounting plate of said locking device is fixedlysecured, said opening in said mounting plate being in a plane parallelto the plane of said panel and the rectilinear movement of said movablemember is over a path parallel to the plane of said panel.
 13. Thecombination as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means for said lockingdevice comprises:(a) a cylindrical body mounted on said mounting plateabove said movable member, said body being formed with a boretherethrough, the axis of said body and said bore being perpendicular toa plane passing through said movable member; and (b) a rotatable memberdisposed in said bore for rotation therein and interacting with saidmovable member for imparting a sliding movement to said movable memberwithin said opening.
 14. The combination as claimed in claim 13 whereinsaid rotatable member includes a locking key slot, and a removablelocking key is inserted into said locking key slot in mated relationtherewith for imparting rotation to said rotatable member to impart asliding movement to said movable member.
 15. The combination as claimedin claim 1 wherein said base of said telephone instrument includes anapertured panel through which said dialing element projects and on whichsaid body of said locking device is mounted, the axis of said bore insaid body being perpendicular to the plane of said panel, said movablemember at its other end being formed with a hub disposed in said borefor rotating said movable member about the axis of said bore and in aplane parallel to the plane of said panel.
 16. The combination asclaimed in clain 15 wherein said body of said locking device is fixedlysecured to said panel of said base of said telephone instrument.
 17. Thecombination as claimed in claim 16 wherein a locking key slot is formedin said hub, and a removable locking key is inserted into said lockingkey slot in mated relation therewith for imparting rotation to saidmovable member.
 18. In combination:(a) a telephone instrument having anapertured base through which projects at least one depressible dialingelement; and (b) a locking device mounted on said telephone instrument,said locking device comprising a movable member, said movable memberbeing movable in one direction in to confronting relation with saiddialing element for depressing said depressible dialing element to locksaid telephone instrument and being movable in another direction forreleasing said depressed dialing element to enable said telephoneinstrument to operate.